Michael Jackson’s brother, Jermaine Jackson, and George Kindel, event promoter, announced today that the tribute concert that was to take place on September 26, in front of Vienna’s Schönbrunn Palace, has been postponed. This was due to scheduling issues for artists that were to appear.
In answer to critics that big-name artists like Madonna had not signed up, Jermaine Jackson said: “The purpose of the show is to give something back to the fans, we have to do this right. It’s not about name-dropping”.
The Michael Jackson tribute concert now has moved to London’s Wembley Stadium and to take place next year in June. Kindel also stated that one of the reasons it was moved is because “renowned artists of the tribute were disrespectfully treated as B-list artists or even losers” by the media in Vienna Austria.
Everyone who bought tickets will be refunded and tickets for the rescheduled show will go on sale December 1.
Jermaine Jackson, Michael Jackson’s brother, announced on CNN Larry King Live that a tribute concert for Michael Jackson will take place in Vienna, Austria near the end of September. He is inviting various high profile artists to perform in front of the Vienna’s Schoenbrunn Palace, a popular venue that hosts the annual summer concert for the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
On the Tribute2009 website that is set up for this event, producers World Awards Media stated, “ The concept of The Tribute is that some of the world’s leading artists will perform Michael Jackson’s greatest hits live on stage in an imperial setting, befitting the King of Pop.”
Jermaine Jackson emphasized that he wants the world to see the humanitarian side of Michael Jackson and plans for this to be an annual charity event to keep his “humanitarian legacy alive”.
“I want to show them how his true emphasis wasn’t music or performing, it was improving the world. Understand this and you begin to understand the essence of who my brother was.”
The concert producers are expecting more than 85,000 people to attend the Michael Jackson Tribute concert and the event will be televised worldwide. A substantial portion of the proceeds will be donated to three charities: Earth Care, Feed The Children and Larry King Cardiac Foundation.
Update: Organizers of the event have now confirmed that it will take place on Sept. 26